---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Vice foments war; it is virtue which…"
description: "\"Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.\" — Luc de Clapiers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png"
---

#  Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If…

![“Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.” quote by Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png)

> “Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.”

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

War arises from vice; virtue would sustain peace forever.

**In simple terms:** Virtue prevents war; without it, peace persists.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate virtue to avoid conflict.

Themes

peace war virtue morality

Mood

reflective critical

Type

philosophical political

When to use this quote

- diplomacy
- conflict resolution
- education
- policy making

Key Concepts

philosophy political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Can virtue alone sustain peace?
- What other factors influence war?

A Different Perspective

Assumes virtue alone can prevent war, ignoring structural causes.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [“The problem with a lot of people is that what they think is a virtue is actually a vice in disguise. It's much easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-dutton/the-problem-with-a-lot-of-people-is-that-what-they-think-is-a-virtue/)

[Kevin Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-dutton/)

> [Vice stirs up war, virtue fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/vice-stirs-up-war-virtue-fights/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/for-peace-is-not-mere-absence-of-war-but-is-a-virtue-that-springs-2/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [Not contentment, but more power; not peace at any price, but war; not virtue, but efficiency (virtue in the Renaissance sense, virtu , virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/not-contentment-but-more-power-not-peace-at-any-price-but-war-not/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Peace is not the absence of war, but a virtue based on strength of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/peace-is-not-the-absence-of-war-but-a-virtue-based-on-strength-of/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [“Peace is not the absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of benevolence, confidence, justice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/peace-is-not-the-absence-of-war-it-is-a-virtue-a-state-of-mind-a/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/peace-is-not-an-absence-of-war-it-is-a-virtue-a-state-of-mind-a/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character: for obedience is the constant will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/for-peace-is-not-mere-absence-of-war-but-is-a-virtue-that-springs/)

[Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/)

> [If it is true that vice can never be done away with, the science of government consists of making it contribute to the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/if-it-is-true-that-vice-can-never-be-done-away-with-the-science-of/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [Silence is source of great strength.But if silence is under wrap of guilt it will bite self consciousness &amp; will never allow to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/silence-is-source-of-great-strength-but-if-silence-is-under-wrap-of/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [“Believe in truth. Trust in hope. Walk in faith. Live in peace. Stand in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/believe-in-truth-trust-in-hope-walk-in-faith-live-in-peace-stand-in/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“We cannot live in peace without Law. And though law cannot be perfect, it may be just if it is written in ignorance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/we-cannot-live-in-peace-without-law-and-though-law-cannot-be-perfect/)

[David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/)

> [“Because the Indians are planning to start war now, the common people want all of them destroyed so that they can live in peace;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-martin-boltzius/because-the-indians-are-planning-to-start-war-now-the-common-people/)

[Johann Martin Boltzius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-martin-boltzius/)

> [she, with her affection and her gaiety, had been largely responsible for him having rediscovered the meaning of life, her love had driven him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-with-her-affection-and-her-gaiety-had-been-largely-responsible/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/)

[Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/)

## More by Luc de Clapiers

> [Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/great-men-undertake-great-things-because-they-are-great-fools-because/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/you-must-rouse-into-people-s-consciousness-their-own-prudence-and/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/to-achieve-great-things-we-must-live-as-though-we-were-never-going-to/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/excessive-distrust-is-not-less-hurtfjul-than-its-opposite-most-men/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong that they seldom venture to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/there-are-those-who-are-so-scrupulously-afraid-of-doing-wrong-that/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-most-absurd-and-reckless-aspirations-have-sometimes-led-to/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [We are very wrong to think that some fault or other can exclude virtue, or to consider the alliance of good and evil as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/we-are-very-wrong-to-think-that-some-fault-or-other-can-exclude/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [Men are not to be judged by what they do not know, but by what they know, and by the manner in which they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-are-not-to-be-judged-by-what-they-do-not-know-but-by-what-they/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [Men dissimulate their dearest, most constant, and most virtuous inclination from weakness and a fear of being condemned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/men-dissimulate-their-dearest-most-constant-and-most-virtuous/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [To withdraw ourselves from the law of the strong, we have found ourselves obliged to submit to justice. Justice or might, we must choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/to-withdraw-ourselves-from-the-law-of-the-strong-we-have-found/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [None are more liable to mistakes than those who act only on second thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/none-are-more-liable-to-mistakes-than-those-who-act-only-on-second/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [The mind is the soul's eye, not its source of power. That lies in the heart, in other words, in the passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/the-mind-is-the-soul-s-eye-not-its-source-of-power-that-lies-in-the/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [It is easier to say new things than to reconcile those which have already been said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/it-is-easier-to-say-new-things-than-to-reconcile-those-which-have/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [Those who can bear all can dare all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/those-who-can-bear-all-can-dare-all/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

> [It is of no use to possess a lively wit if it is not of the right proportion: the perfection of a clock is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/it-is-of-no-use-to-possess-a-lively-wit-if-it-is-not-of-the-right/)

[Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

[Explore all 190 Luc de Clapiers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/)

[Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/)

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Luc de Clapiers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actually-fights-if-there-were-no/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actually-fights-if-there-were-no/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19b/luc-de-clapiers-2035_character_vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actu_2092283.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever.” — Luc de Clapiers",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Luc de Clapiers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Vice foments war; it is virtue...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actually-fights-if-there-were-no/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/vice-foments-war-it-is-virtue-which-actually-fights-if-there-were-no/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
